Living

It’s that time of year again! In a recent survey, 96% of individuals with COPD indicated they enjoy spending more time with their friends and family during the holiday season...

It’s a classic battle between head and heart: Should a person with COPD have a pet? Allow me to spoil the ending for you: there’s no right or wrong answer...

I do most of my traveling by car. A short trip or a long trip, I'm always prepared or I try to be, but even the best laid plans can...

Sadly, winter is approaching as we are into fall. With it comes gentle reminders to prepare for the coming cold we in the northern hemisphere are about to endure. Many...

Like many with very severe emphysema, a component of COPD, my worst moments often occur soon after waking. Today was no exception. It is the moment when my long acting...

If you are on supplemental oxygen, getting out for an hour, a day, a week or longer takes a lot of planning if you want it to be successful and...

In my last article, “Having A Social Life With COPD”, the focus was on things that can affect us, such as scented products. In this article, we will discuss the challenge...

Having a chronic illness or disability can sometimes make it difficult – or even physically painful – to function in the workplace. But despite struggling daily, many workers are reluctant...

You will find that you and your doctor, as well as his/her staff, get to be quite a team. At the beginning of your disease, you may find you are...

Just because you're on supplemental oxygen doesn't give you any reason not to get out and about. To the contrary, supplemental oxygen might give you the freedom to get out...

As someone who has written a journal on my journey with COPD for a several years I often receive emails from frightened readers. Or notice a search engine query asking if...

The one thing most if not all us with COPD have in common is – we don't breathe right. Even though we fought to breathe from birth many of us never...

The Social Security Administration is a branch of the United States federal government that provides disability benefits to individuals who cannot work due to long-term disability. Benefits are provided through...

You've probably heard the old saying, "Knowledge is power." This is never more true than when dealing with a new diagnosis of COPD, also known as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease...

While dyspnea (labored or shortness of breath) is often the most experienced, and most recognized, symptom of COPD, fatigue, or lack of energy, is frequently cited as an even more...

Sometimes us with COPD find it hard getting others to recognize we have a disabling, chronic illness. A recent photo of myself taken by my wife Lynne has me looking very...

One of the subjects I mentioned is 'death by couch'. That can sound disturbing and alarming. But remember as I have had COPD since 1987 I am convinced the only...

Results of the COPD In America 2015 Study reported that almost a third of respondents were unaware of the stage of their COPD when they were diagnosed, and a similar...

My diagnosis of COPD during 1987 was an unremarkable affair. The doctor informed me after tests for repeated bronchitis and shortness of breath that I had mild COPD. Prescribed an inhaler...

I am not going to welcome you to club COPD. After all, none of us want to be here. But as we are here, simple rules have to be learned...